Clematis plant named &#39;BFCCDEL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Clematis hybrid  named ‘BFCCDEL’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive double or semi-double dark purple flowers. Plants have a dense, shrubby plant form and are well suited for container plantings. Flowers are produced from May/June through August/September. The new cultivar is a  Clematis  typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Clematis lanuginosa×patens

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BFCCDEL’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the result of planned breeding program, conductor bythe inventor, Barry Fretwell in Exeter, Great Britain. The seed parentis an unpatented, proprietary Clematis lanuginosa referred to as‘P-3-833’. The pollen parent is an unpatented, proprietary Clematispatens referred to as ‘P-7-13’. The cross was made during 2006 and theselection of the new variety was made in 2009.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘BFCCDEL’ was first performed in Exeter, Great Britainat a nursery by vegetative cuttings in 2010. ‘BFCCDEL’ has sinceproduced multiple generations, and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BFCCDEL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BFCCDEL.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BFCCDEL’ as a new and distinct Clematiscultivar:

1. Double flowers, and semi double flowers.2. Creamy yellow to pale yellow flowers3. Flowering from May/June through August/September4. Small foliage size5. Suitability for container culture.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BFCCDEL’ are similar to the seed parentvariety in most horticultural characteristics. However, the new varietydiffers from the seed parent in the following:

1. Flowers of the parent variety are more pure white, compared tocream/yellow flowers of the new variety.2. The new variety has smaller foliage.3. The new variety has a plant habit better suited for containers.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from the pollen parent in thefollowing:

1. The pollen parent has semi-double pale yellow flowers, comparatorflowers are lighter in color, with less coloration.2. The new variety produces fully double and semi-double flowers, thepollen parent produces semi-double flowers.3. The new variety has smaller foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BFCCDEL’ are similar to the commercialvariety Clematis hybrid ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’, unpatented, in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, the new variety differs from‘Duchess of Edinburgh’ in the following:

1. The new variety produces cream/yellow flowers, compared to the whiteflowers of this comparator.2. The new variety has a plant habit better suited for containers.3. Plants of the new variety have a lighter green leaf color4. Plants of the new variety have a shorter internode space, creating ashrubbier plant form.

The new variety can also be compared to Clematis patens ‘Yuki Okoshi’,unpatented, differing in the following characteristics:

1. The new variety produces cream/yellow flowers, compared to the whiteflowers of this comparator.2. The new variety has a plant habit better suited for containers.3. Foliage of the new variety is smaller.4. Plants of the new variety have a shorter internode space, creating ashrubbier plant form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical mature flowers and foliage of ‘BFCCDEL’ grown outdoors inGermany. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BFCCDEL’ plants grown outdoors in Germany.The growing temperature ranged from 0° C. to 25° C. at night to 0° C. to30° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments orchemical treatments were given to the plants. Plants were pinched twice.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalflowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis lanuginosa×patens ‘BFCCDEL’    -   -   Age of the plant described.—Approximately 8 months.        -   Container size of the plant described.—Growing in the            ground.-   Propagation:    -   -   Typical method.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate root developments.—22 days in the summer at            24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting/young plant.—40-50 days in            the summer at 20° to 26° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Shrubby vine.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 12            to 14 months from an unrooted cutting to a deliverable            plant, in a 1.5 or 2 Liter size container.        -   Height.—Approximately 8 to 10 feet, measured from the soil            line of the ground after approximately 8 months.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 2 to 2.5 feet.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid during active growing season in Spring.            40 to 50 cm per month.        -   Branching characteristics.—One main stem, easily making side            branches from a pinch. Typically 3 to 5 main lateral            branches form from a pinch.        -   Length of main stem.—Approximately 200 to 300 cm.        -   Diameter of main stem.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Main stem color.—Near RHS Green 143C, flushed with            Greyed-Red 178C.        -   Main stem texture.—Glabrous.        -   Internode length.—Varies from 8 to 12 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible, semi-woody.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite, Ternate and simple leaves            present. Leaves per lateral branch: Average range 3. Ternate            leaf: Average Length: approximately 14 to 21 cm. Average            Width: approximately 10 to 14 cm. Leaflets and single            leaves: Average Length: approximately 4 to 7 cm. Average            Width: approximately 3 to 4 cm. Shape of blade: Cordate            Apex: Acute Base: Obtuse Attachment: Stalked Margin: Entire            Texture upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous Color: Young            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143C Young foliage under            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B Mature foliage upper side:            Near RHS Green 137A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS            Green 143B Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color upper            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B Venation color under side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.0 to 6.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.15 cm Texture: Smooth Color: Near RHS Green            143C, flushed with Greyed-Red 178B and 178C.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: May/June through            August/September.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Double or semi-double,            axillary. Flowers facing outward.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds on the plant at a given            time.—20 to 60.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Approximately 16 days from bud to            fully opened flower.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 10 to 14 days,            after fully opened. Self-cleaning.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Approximately 10.0 to 14.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Flowers.—        -   Corolla.—Tepal arrangement: Multi-whorled, slightly upwardly            cupped. Quantity: Typically 30 to 50 per flower. Size:            Length: Approximately 5.0 to 6.0 cm. Width: Approximately            0.8 to 1.0 cm. Shape: Oblong Margin: Very slightly            undulating, entire Apex: Short acuminate Base: Blunt            Texture: Smooth, upper and lower surfaces.        -   Color.—Tepals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS            Yellow-White 158D, center Yellow 3A. Mid vein Green 143C            Lower surface: Near RHS Green-White 157D, center            Green-Yellow 1C. Mid vein Green 143C Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near RHS Green-White 157D, center faintly flushed            Yellow 2C. Mid vein faintly Green 143C. Apex flushed near            Red-Purple 58A. Lower surface: Near RHS Green-White 157D,            center faintly flushed Yellow 2C. Mid vein faintly Green            143C Ageing: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155A. Mid vein            very faintly Green 143C. Apex and upper margins flushed near            Red-Purple 59D. Lower surface: Near RHS White 155A, apex and            upper margins flushed near Red-Purple 59D.        -   Bud.—Shape: Conical Length: Approximately 3.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-white 158D,            flushed Yellow 2D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: Average range 8 to 10 cm Width:            Approximately 0.3 cm. Angle: Average 90° Strength: Flexible.            Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 172B Fragrance: None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: Average 80 to 100 per flower. Stamen color:            Near Yellow 7A Anther length: Approximately 0.08 to 0.12 cm            Anther color: Near RHS Yellow 12B Anther shape: Oblong            Pollen quantity: Moderate Pollen color: Near Yellow 2A.        -   Pistil.—Pistil quantity: 40 to 60 per flower. Length:            Approximately 0.8 cm. Style length: Approximately 0.7 cm.            Stigma: Shape: Linear Color: Near RHS Yellow 2C.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal pests of Clematis has been            observed. Better resistance for mildew diseases of Clematis            has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures from            approximately −25° C. to 45° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis hybridplant named ‘BFCCDEL’ as herein illustrated and described.